alabaster

C2 Topic:Word Formation & Derivatives

US /ˈæl.əˌbæs.tɚ/ UK /ˈæl.əˌbɑːs.tə/ See IPA manual

Freq #35727

Meanings

1

noun
a fine-grained, usually pale and translucent form of gypsum or calcite used for carving

The sculptor chose alabaster because light passes softly through the stone.
2

adj
made of or resembling alabaster, especially in being smooth, pale, or translucent

The clear water gave her skin an alabaster appearance.
3

noun
a creamy or translucent off-white color

The walls were painted a warm alabaster rather than a stark white.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a fine-grained, usually... alabaster stoneoriental alabasteronyx marble

2 adj · made of or resembling... alabastrineivory-whitepale

3 noun · a creamy or translucent... off-whiteivory

Word family

Derived forms alabastrinealabasterlike

Related forms gypsumcalcitemarble sculpture

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

oriental alabaster
a hard compact variety of calcite used as a decorative stone

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English alabastre and Old French alabastre, from Latin alabaster or alabastrum and Greek alabastos, originally a handleless vessel for perfume. Such vessels were commonly carved from the pale stone, so the container name passed to the material. The Greek word's deeper origin is uncertain.

Topics

Word Formation & Derivatives General Vocabulary

External links

# alabaster

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈæl.əˌbæs.tɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈæl.əˌbɑːs.tə/
**Frequency rank:** 35727

## Meanings
1. a fine-grained, usually pale and translucent form of gypsum or calcite used for carving
2. made of or resembling alabaster, especially in being smooth, pale, or translucent
3. a creamy or translucent off-white color

## Examples
- The sculptor chose alabaster because light passes softly through the stone.
- The clear water gave her skin an alabaster appearance.
- The walls were painted a warm alabaster rather than a stark white.

## Synonyms
- alabaster stone
- alabastrine
- off-white
- ivory
- onyx marble

## Derived Forms
- alabastrine
- alabasterlike

## Related Forms
- gypsum
- calcite
- marble
- sculpture

## Etymology
From Middle English alabastre and Old French alabastre, from Latin alabaster or alabastrum and Greek alabastos, originally a handleless vessel for perfume. Such vessels were commonly carved from the pale stone, so the container name passed to the material. The Greek word's deeper origin is uncertain.

## Topics
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- General Vocabulary

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